Lumpectomy and recovery

[dancingwhilstfacingthemusic]

Hi all, regular poster, namechanged for privacy as local friends use MN.

I have been diagnosed with early breast cancer and am due to have a lumpectomy under a GA as a day case in a couple of weeks.

I'm looking for positivity about peoples' experience of recovery from lumpectomy. I'm hoping to be back to doing the things I love pending further treatment (likely to be radiotherapy, could be chemo if it's started to travel).

How soon were people up and about? Any tips?

TIA

Looking at the same thing! Mine will be an overnight stay. I'm told it's 2week recovery. 4 weeks full recovery, back to lifting heavier objects etc. hoping this is an over estimate.

Good luck with your surgery

I had the same three years ago. Out of hospital the same day, cleaned my shower after using it the next morning. Three days later, changed my bed linen (superking so quite heavy).i felt absolutely fine physically (mentally it took longer). Make sure to do your arm exercises. Wishing you well.

Thanks so much. I’m told I’ll be a day case and the family is all lined up to support. They’re also taking the sentinel nodes to check it’s not travelled.

good to hear if positive things @oldanddontlikeit . All the very best for your procedure @chubbychopsticks

Fingers crossed all round for results a couple of weeks later and onward. I’m told I’ll need radiotherapy but an outside chance of chemo if it’s spread.

@dancingwhilstfacingthemusic
good luck with your op! Am watching this thread as will also be having this procedure - awaiting date. Good to hear the positive stories

The lumpectomy is a very minor issue, the lymph node removal recovery takes a lot longer, and it is really important to do all the physio you are given, to regain strength and movement in your arm as much as possible.

You will need to take care of the arm for the rest of your life, once it has fewer lymph nodes, as it becomes more vulnerable and less able to recover from strain or injury.

i was told never to wear rings or watches on the side that has had lymph nodes removed, but now it is both sides and I have to put my watch somewhere! I wear it done up very loosely. I don't wear rings at all any more, and wear gardening gloves or rubber gloves or any tough job or hot washing up

Glad to hear the lumpectomy is a minor issue, I’ve had some lovely reassurances from friends too.

@bewilderedhedgehog I hope you soon get your date. It’s sort of easier to deal with when you have the process underway.

Thanks also for guidance re lymphs. I’m “only” having the sentinel nodes taken for biopsy, rather than the whole lot. I hope this is less of an issue recovery-wise (I have friends who’ve had to have the whole node system out and are doing well a few years on). Either way, thankyou, I am learning that the exercises are very important.

Keeping relatively calm and carrying on.

I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy done about 4 yrs ago , v straightforward & pretty painless . I was mobile pretty much immediately and don't recall even needing pain relief . I didn't need chemo , but did have a month of radiotherapy , from which I didn't have any side effects apart perhaps from a bit of tiredness towards the end . I walked to my radiotherapy sessions and back each day , about a 3 mile round trip ... felt therapeutic to get some exercise in . The physical effects were far less impactful than the underlying anxiety about what was happening , which does fade in time !

I have been through this too and was home the same day. Recovery was quick. Sentinel node biopsy showed no spread to lymph so radiotherapy only which caused me no problems. Everyone is different so make sure you do what's right for you. For me I found it mentally difficult for awhile having never faced any health issues but 5 years on its a distant memory.

I'm sorry to hear that you have breast cancer OP. I had a lumpectomy a few weeks ago for a large benign lump. It was very minor surgery and I went home after 3 hours.

My mother also had a lumpectomy for a malignant mass and a sentinel node biopsy. She was home after 5/6 hours and recovery time was a few days. Best of luck with the surgery. Xx

I had lumpectomy 2.5yrs ago. Recovery was textbook, I followed the post op instructions to the letter. The main thing was to do the physio exercises, religiously.
I had a drain fitted for 5days which slowed me down but once it had been removed I was able to go out. Obviously you have to take things steady for a couple of weeks and I didn’t drive until 10days post op. But I went to watch DS play rugby 7 days post op and was able to do a Tescos shop with assistance.

A few things to consider in preparation

1. make sure you have stocked up on painkillers
2. a wedge pillow is essential
3. if you have a drain fitted tape the tubing in a loop to your chest so if you catch it on anything it does take your breath away
4. if you have a drain borrow a large pyjama top turn it inside out so you can put the drain in the pocket. Or buy a small (cheap) tote bag to carry the drain bottle in
5. also put a chair next to your bed to hang the drain bag on it also reminds you that you have a drain, it’s very easy to forget when you go to the loo in the middle of the night. It bloody stings when you catch them on door handles or the end of the bed.
6. once the wounds have healed use Mepitac tape ( silicone tape) to help minimise scar tissue also it protects the scar where they take the lymph nodes from. The lymph node scar is by far the most painful one and catches on clothing and bras forever. Covering with tape makes it so much more comfortable.

Again do the physio.
I had the radio but not chemo. Radio is easy, particularly if you have the intense course over 5 days. But the after effects are a bit of a surprise. They warn you about the fatigue, but it does wipe you out for a few weeks. I returned to work 3 weeks after radio, I was only working 2 days a week but at the end of the first day I struggled to walk up the stairs, my legs were like lead. And I would sleep most afternoons.

Physiologically it varies. I’m not one of the born again pink haired jolly fundraisers. Each to their own. I’d rather not spend my life celebrating my survival. I just keep moving forward. Each year I have a little wobble when I am called in for the annual mammogram, once I get the all clear it’s back to the looking forward.
Im lucky that I had an amazing surgeon who left me with a pretty good looking boob, better than it was pre cancer to be honest. So I’m not constantly reminded.
I have to take Anastrazole, the first couple of years were ok but it is not a pleasant drug, but as it is a “do or die” drug I’m sticking with it. My blood pressure is a bit unstable at the moment and joint pain can be a real hassle I’m hoping when my GP gets my BP drugs sorted out again it will settle down again.

Good luck op and commiserations on joining the club no one wants to be a member of.
There are some really good support sites on Facebook which are private and for cancer patients only. I found them a source of support,help and great advice.

My neighbour had a lumpectomy on a Wednesday and was back at work on Monday, five days later. The surgeon was happy with the result of the operation. She had chemo as a prophylactic, followed by radiation, followed by anastrazole for five years (she's starting year three).

Thankyou. You’ve all been very kind and very helpful.

good luck everyone who’s going through treatment and onward. I’ll update when I can.

I’m definitely the chin up and no nonsense type with it, with the odd wobble. But we must all deal with it in our own way.

Good luck for your surgeries.

I had a lumpectomy last March and sentinel node removal. My scars are minimal - the sentinel node one just looks like a brown line mark - very smooth.

I had 2 weeks off work in total. My radiotherapy was in July (5 sessions) and apart from feeling incredibly tired with radiotherapy all was ok - I felt a bit daft moaning about how tired I was after so few sessions but oncologist told me I had higher dosage in less sessions whereas in past I might have had 2-3 weeks of sessions.

Am on Anastrozole and had a few side effects which I could do without but am keeping going and managing ok.

If what happens to you is you feel "chin up and no nonsense" than go with it. If that is not what happens to you, then don't attempt to be. It is totally outside of your control how your body reacts physically, physiologically and hormonally. "positive attitudes" are known to be associated with slightly worse outcomes, so are not necessarily something to emulate.

I have had identical operations on both sides at the same time, and my body reacted totally differently to each them

There is no way of knowing, for example, what individual nerves are being cut, and how your body interprets that.

You need to keep in mind that the arm that loses lymph nodes but be treated carefully forever, and that if you trigger lymphoedema, that is permanent and disabling. My friend now has this, severely, for life, after carrying a suitcase on the wrong side.

Also keep in mind that a lumpectomy quite commonly fails, and more surgery is needed after.

These responses are really helpful. I’ve just finished chemotherapy and the next step is a lumpectomy. I’m going for an MRI next week so I’ll know more after that in terms of surgery.